Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships

Relationship expert and bestselling author Tristan Taormino offers a bold new strategy for creating loving, lasting relationships. Drawing on in-depth interviews with over a hundred women and men, Opening Up explores the real-life benefits and challenges of all styles of open relationships - from partnered non-monogamy to solo polyamory. With her refreshingly down-to-earth style and sharp wit, Taormino offers solutions for making an open relationship work, including tips on dealing with jealousy, negotiating boundaries, finding community, parenting and time management.

The Polyamorists Next Door: Inside Multiple-Partner Relationships and Families

In colorful and moving details, this audiobook explores how polyamorous relationships come to be, how they grow and change, how they manage the ins and outs of daily family life, and how they cope with the challenges they face both within their families and from society. Using polyamorists own words, Dr. Elisabeth Sheff examines polyamorous households and reveals their advantages, disadvantages, and the daily lives of those living in them.

Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic & the Domestic

Esther Perel takes on tough questions, grappling with the obstacles and anxieties that arise when our quest for secure love conflicts with our pursuit of passion. She invites us to explore the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire, and explains what it takes to bring lust home.

Open All the Way: Confessions from My Open Marriage

Open All the Way marks Sadie Smythe's foray into long-range storytelling. Most well known for her outspoken commentary on her blog, about relationship paradigms and the navigation through her own alternative arrangement with her husband Scott, Sadie is very excited to offer her loyal readers a larger-lensed view into her openly married life. Each chapter of Open All the Way is an individual story in itself. But the combined ensemble compellingly chronicles her journey.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

Jealousy: Why it Happens and How to Overcome It

Jealousy can invade every relationship, whether it be with husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, family or friends. If we love others and need their love in return we can all suffer from the pain of jealousy. Dr Hauck believes jealousy is a self-defeating emotion which drives away the love we crave. He explains what makes us feel jealous, and shows us how we can control it.

The Truth

From the author of the blockbuster best seller The Game: a shockingly personal, surprisingly relatable, brutally honest memoir in which the celebrated dating expert confronts the greatest challenge he has ever faced: monogamy and fidelity.

The Game Changer: A Memoir of Disruptive Love

To make an open marriage work, Franklin and Celeste knew they needed to make sure no one else ever came between them. That meant there had to be rules. No overnights, no falling in love, and either one of them could ask the other to end an outside relationship if it became too much to deal with. It worked for nearly two decades, and their relentless focus on their own relationship let them turn a blind eye to the emotional wreckage they were leaving behind them.

Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage

In Marriage, a History, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes listeners from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the torments of Victorian lovers to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is - and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors. It was when marriage moved into the emotional sphere in the 19th century, she argues, that it suffered as an institution just as it began to thrive as a personal relationship.

On Nonviolent Communication, this renowned peacemaker presents his complete system for speaking our deepest truths, addressing our unrecognized needs and emotions, and honoring those same concerns in others. With this adaptation of the best-selling book of the same title, Marshall Rosenberg teaches in his own words.

The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate's love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp!

Magnetic Charisma: How to Build Instant Rapport, Be More Likable, and Make a Memorable Impression

Develop your own personal gravity with concrete skills to stand out, be noticed, and captivate people. If you (1) walk into a room and feel invisible, or (2) want to ensure you make a powerful personal impact - newsflash: you need better advice than "fake it 'til you make it" or "just be yourself". Confidently approach and excel in any social setting.

The Beta Male Revolution: Why Many Men Have Totally Lost Interest in Marriage in Today's Society

For male listeners, author and professional dating coach Alan Roger Currie goes into detail explaining the difference in the appeal of an Alpha male versus a Beta male in the eyes of women and how each type of man satisfies different needs for women.

Enlightenment, Marriage, and the Dark Side

These days, women rarely come across men who can meet them fully in intimacy, suggests maverick teacher and author David Deida. Why? Because women have culturally evolved beyond men. What does sexiness mean in today's changing world? How do men and women re-learn to trust each other in spiritual depth and emotional intimacy? Beyond old sexual roles, is there any hope for enduring and ecstatic intimacy? Many women feel that men have become all but obsolete as dependable breadwinners, trustworthy guides, and committed husbands.

A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the World's Largest Experiment Reveals About Human Desire

Informed by 18,000 interviews and bold insight from neuroscientists Sai Gaddam and Ogi Ogas, this groundbreaking study will likely rock many people’s perceptions of what stimulates males and females. The surprising results not only demonstrate people’s needs, but the needs of people’s mates as well.

Get inside Her: The Female Perspective: Dirty Secrets from a Woman on How to Attract, Seduce and Get Any Female You Want

Do beautiful women pass you by? Do you become nervous, anxious, or frustrated at the thought of approaching a woman? Do you wonder why great guys like you end up alone when grade A jerks score all the hotties? Maybe you are one of thousands of men rejected for absolutely no reason, or find yourself on the receiving end of lame excuses (especially when women never call you back)? Unlock the secrets women will never tell men!

Third-Stage Love: Let Your Hurt Show and Your Heart Shine

These days, women rarely come across men who can meet them fully in intimacy, suggests maverick teacher and author David Deida. Why? Because women have culturally evolved beyond men. What does sexiness mean in today's changing world? How do men and women re-learn to trust each other in spiritual depth and emotional intimacy? Beyond old sexual roles, is there any hope for enduring and ecstatic intimacy?

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

You are not doomed by your genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of your life. A new science is emerging that empowers all human beings to create the reality they choose. In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, renowned author, speaker, researcher, and chiropractor Dr. Joe Dispenza combines the fields of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to show you what is truly possible.

The Neurobiology of 'We': How Relationships, the Mind, and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are

If you think your brain and mind are one, think again. According to the interpersonal neurobioligy pioneer Daniel J. Siegel, the mind actually emerges out of the interaction between your brain and relationships. Now, with The Neurobiology of "We", Dr. Siegel invites you on a journey to discover this revolutionary new model of human development - one that can positively transform trauma, move you from stress to calm and equanimity, and promote well-being for you, your family, or even your community.

What Women Want in a Man: How to Become the Alpha Male Women Respect, Desire, and Want to Submit To

You can learn everything you can about how to make women want you and still fail to master the inner game of being a man who naturally attracts women. Some guys even study all kinds of seduction secrets on attracting women, yet they only end up in terrible relationships with low-quality women. Most guys simply don't understand how women think. If you asked the average guy what women want, he may say things like confidence, money, or ridiculous good looks, but all of these things are just the tip of the iceberg.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There's no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in digestible chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

After a violent coup in the United States overthrows the Constitution and ushers in a new government regime, the Republic of Gilead imposes subservient roles on all women. Offred, now a Handmaid tasked with the singular role of procreation in the childless household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost everything, even her own name.

The Fifth Sacred Thing

The year is 2048. Climate change and bio-warfare have ravaged much of the Earth, and societal meltdown has splintered the US into fragments. But out of the ruins, Northern California has built a thriving culture based on respect for the four sacred things: air, fire, water and earth.

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find - And Keep - Love

Is there a science to love? In this groundbreaking audiobook, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine and psychologist Rachel S. F. Heller reveal how an understanding of attachment theory - the most advanced relationship science in existence today - can help us find and sustain love. Attachment theory forms the basis for many best-selling books on the parent/child relationship, but there has yet to be an accessible guide to what this fascinating science has to tell us about adult romantic relationships - until now.

Publisher's Summary

For anyone who has ever dreamed of love, sex, and companionship beyond the limits of traditional monogamy, this groundbreaking guide navigates the infinite possibilities that open relationships can offer. Experienced ethical sluts Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy dispel myths and cover all the skills necessary to maintain a successful and responsible polyamorous lifestyle - from self-reflection and honest communication to practicing safe sex and raising a family. Individuals and their partners will learn how to discuss and honor boundaries, resolve conflicts, and to define relationships on their own terms.

What the Critics Say

"I couldn't stop reading it, and I for one identify as an ethical slut. This is a book for anyone interested in creating more pleasure in their lives...a complete guide to improving any style of relating, from going steady to having an extended family of sexual friends." (Betty Dodson, PhD, author of Sex for One)

Avid Audio Book listener. Usual suspects are Leadership, Business, Philosophy, Biographies, and Random Fiction. But once every couple of months I choose a book I might not have picked...ever...but with good reviews.

"The Ethical Slut" is an excellent, well written book to learn about different relationship types outside of monogamy while also respecting monogamy.

If you are looking at this book, you are probably curious about the many topics of relationships. You will find a lot of good tips in this book whether monogamous or considering open, polyamory, or more. This book can actually help enforce a lot of positive communication techniques for yourself and your partner(s). At its center, the book is all about honesty and trust which is the building blocks of every relationship.

The book is also extends the idea of what sex really is. If you think you know, listen to the first half of this book and see if you still define it the same way.

The authors read the book and they do an earnest job. The fact that they switch between the authors to accent parts is nice. Also it helps that they both practice what they are explaining so can provide personal experiences, emotions, and really relate the content.

The book gets a few down sides that keeps it from a 5 star.

The book feels it is geared largely to women and couples even though they try to cover all sexualities and relationship types. Single men can get quite a lot but some examples or exercises are difficult to relate to.

Also the second half of the book drags a little and the dual voice use takes a little bit of a hit that kept it moving so well the first half.

Finally, it can almost be an overload of information. You might need a few listens to get the full use of the book.

Overall, for anyone who ever "what ifed" or want to consider a different type of relationship in an open and honest way, this well written and dense book is for you!

the information was fairly decent, the reader a little bit boring for my taste. Listening to this book was almost like listening to some Christian book, except with a complete opposite point of view. Where Christianity tells you any kind of sex before marriage is a terrible idea, this book makes it sound like any kind of rules in regards to monogamy, or heterosexuality are the worst ever. In my opinion either extreme is narrow-minded and above all, untrue.

Where does The Ethical Slut rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The open mindedness, sex positive approach, and enthusiasm was enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

Good solid read, with enough examples to use in everyday life.

What didn’t you like about Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton ’s performance?

Having a younger, more modern adaption would have enhanced my experience. Their performance was good, my extreme reaction was more toward the grandma-like reading from Hardy and Easton - describing hardcore sex acts in detail to 20 and 30 something’s leaves a little bit to be desired.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hire a much younger staff and make it relevant to our modern time.

Any additional comments?

I don’t want anyone to misinterpret this review, this book is great! – all the information herein is solid, well delivered, and 100% on point. I have been in a relationship for 8 years where my wife and I love to take women home for 3 way sex, bondage and discipline, top/bottom sex – or whatever you want to call it. This book is specifically geared to relationships like these. Some of the ladies we hook up with end up staying around for a while because it just works - some don’t. This book is very good at looking at the dynamic of relationships like these and also very good at offering advice for this type of situation.My critique lies in the delivery, and approach. No offense to the authors who also speak the audio commentary (read the book to you), but the experience is like having my hippy grandmother tell me very detailed stories about how her and all her old friends used to get it on back in the day. A lot of the material doesn’t translate well to someone who is, say in their 20’s or 30’s; it just doesn’t – I feel our generation is way more open than those of the past. So even though, all the information in the book is absolutely great advise for a kinky relationship or a vanilla relationship. They push good, open values that stress on the importance of communication, it's just weird having it told to you by an older person. So I would suggest this book to everybody – just be ready to have it read to you by a nice old woman who loves to use terms like cunt, cock, & ass fucking.

This is an amazing book for anyone and everyone engaging in relationships or exploring sexuality. It provides advice, ideas, guidance, and an incredibly sane, healthy perspective for connecting with others and ourselves, in contrast to a culture that associates shame with so much of that exploration.

Would you try another book from Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton and/or Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton ?

No, I do not think their viewpoints and spectrum of knowledge are helpful to me.

Would you ever listen to anything by Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton again?

No

Which scene was your favorite?

The chapter on sex parties and group sex were the most useful.

Was The Ethical Slut worth the listening time?

At a mere 10 hours, you would think it would have been easier to handle. But I found this book to be a trudge through monotone voices and delusional sexual utopia.

Any additional comments?

I really looked forward to this book. All the reviews and feedback from friends and colleagues, I expected a revelation and what I got instead was a book that was constantly telling me to refer to another chapter for more information. (A little hard to do when you are listening to an audio book.)<br/><br/>The authors speak a lot about their own personal lives and their existence within a sexual utopia where there is no jealousy and everything seems to fit like a glove. It is a hard lesson to simply tell someone, "You're feeling jealous? Well don't."<br/><br/>If it was that easy I would simply choose not to feel that and save myself the credit for "The Two Towers" by Tolkien. At least that will not be constantly sending me back on an adventure on page 69 to find out more.

while I am not practicing in an open relationship, I was curious as to how this would be written. The book explores multi-partner relationships, polyamory and open relationships in an interesting way in its intention, but I didn't feel like it give specifics or anything else that I didn't already think about or know. A good book if you're curious, but you can pretty much guess the content. Borrow it for free before you buy it.

I cannot say enough good things about this book! This is my second time reading it and my first time listening to it on audible. As a queer poly person I review this book whenever I feel my values need to be reassessed in order to be a more ethical slut. This definitely does the trick every time. The audiobook was amazing! The performance of the reader was wonderful and I live being able to listen to it in between meetings and other things in my busy life. Love love love this book! That being said, there could still be some more work on language to make it less binary and more inclusive of trans and gnc people but this second edition seems like it's going in that direction. Hopefully the third edition will be even better!

Seems to promote and excuse cheating too much, blaming the monogamous person for their limited views instead of the cheater for being a sneaky liar. wanted to enjoy and learn from this book, but could not get past that, nor the quantity over quality attitude.

Much of the writing is done as if you were being spoken to. So naturally, when narrated as an audiobook, you often are being spoken to directly. A wonderful book and the perfect subject of an audiobook.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ethical Slut?

Listening to the narrator describe how she fell in love with a woman who at first intimidated her.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I very often laughed out loud in public. Quite embarrassing.

Any additional comments?

A great book. Even though it may be targetted at women, there is no reason a man cannot enjoy it and glean a great deal of wisdom from it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

p f chester

8/14/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"flower power"

ive gone back to the 60s. i did not rate it. bit of a wadte of money. thats in my opinion.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

K. Notley

Cheshire UK

11/9/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Fantastic Don't Let The Title Put You Off!"

Read it cover to cover. Be you whatever gender and whatever status there is ultimately something here for all. Even those not seeking the title of the book. Wise words and ones to live by, be free and be happy read this book and keep an open mind before you do!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Suzanne Cooke

10/11/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great guide to not being a dick when multi dating"

Beautiful! Real and practical guidance for loving love mindfully. How to have your cake and eat it without being a dick.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Matthew

1/9/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Enlightening"

This has opened my mind and changed my perspectives. My sincere thanks to the authors and the brave pioneers of open sexuality.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

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